Cobweb

Taco Bell Stages Operation Taco Drop in Alaska

Bethel, a remote town in Alaska, was the butt of a bizarre hoax last month, in which someone—for no clear reason—posted fliers announcing the opening of a Taco Bell. Whoever it was went so far as to create a fake website and to post a phone number citizens could call seeking employment.

Fine dining Taco Bell isn't, but the residents still took it pretty hard. Today, something even stranger happened. Taco Bell flew in some grub.

When Taco Bell executives learned of the cruel joke, they sent a free consolation package on Sunday bearing 950 pounds of beef, 500 pounds of sour cream, 300 pounds of tomatoes, 300 pounds of lettuce and 150 pounds of cheddar cheese.

The shipment came via a helicopter that delivered not just the tacos, but a whole branded truck full of taco ingredients. The picture of it on the Times' website is classic. The video of the truck arriving below is even more classic.

Also from the L.A. Times article:

The effort, which Taco Bell dubbed “Operation Alaska,” was hugely popular—both in Bethel and on social media, garnering thousands of Facebook likes. On Twitter, the company posted a series of photos as its helicopter skimmed snow-capped peaks en route to the town. One woman told servers it was the first time she had eaten Taco Bell in more than two decades.

The sad coda to all the hubbub is that Taco Bell still has no plans to open an outlet in Bethel, Alaska.